California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye will welcome multidisciplinary teams from 32 counties to kick off a signature initiative to keep kids in school and out of court at a two-day summit on December 3-4, in Anaheim. California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson will co-convene the event.

“When children are not in school or don’t graduate from high school, they are at greater risk of entering the juvenile justice system,” stated Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye. “The judicial system can’t wait until that happens—we need to recognize this looming problem and create the partnerships needed to return these children to their schools and to become productive members of society.”

WHAT: The Keeping Kids in School and Out of Court Summit will examine how truancy, school discipline, and trauma affect youth and what can be done about it. County teams invited to participate in the summit will learn about promising and proven strategies to keep children engaged in school and hear about alternatives to school discipline policies that can lead to excessive suspensions and expulsions. See summit agenda.